igneous
Granite
Granite (Felsic Plutonic Rock)
Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale; Color: Phaneritic (medium-to-coarse grained) mixture of white, gray, pink, and black; Luster: Dull to vitreous; Structure: Massive and granular; Cleavage: None (minerals within have individual cleavage); Specific Gravity: 2.63 to 2.75
- Hardness
- 6-7 on Mohs scale
- Luster
- Dull to vitreous
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale; Color: Phaneritic (medium-to-coarse grained) mixture of white, gray, pink, and black; Luster: Dull to vitreous; Structure: Massive and granular; Cleavage: None (minerals within have individual cleavage); Specific Gravity: 2.63 to 2.75
Formation & geological history
Formed from the slow crystallization of magma below Earth's surface (intrusive). Most continental granite dates from the Precambrian era to the present, forming in magmatic arcs and orogenic belts.
Uses & applications
Used extensively in construction for countertops, floor tiles, paving stones, curbing, monuments, and as crushed stone for road base.
Geological facts
Granite makes up a large portion of the Earth's continental crust. It is extremely durable and is the reason many mountain ranges, like the Sierra Nevada, remain standing after millions of years of erosion.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its 'salt and pepper' appearance and visible interlocking crystals of quartz, feldspar, and mica. It is found in the cores of mountain ranges and in shield areas of continents.
